NSCC to offer new social services program

Program aimed at rural community needs

SPRINGHILL – A new program being developed for Nova Scotia Community College’s Cumberland Campus in Springhill has a lot of promise for addressing needs in the world of social services in the area while keeping students in the campus community longer.

Nova Scotia Community College Academic Chair Connie Fisher for the Cumberland Campus in Springhill and Albert Rogers, who will be the faculty for the new Social Services Diploma program at the campus, unveiled the expected curriculum students will learn when the program begins in the 2014-2015 school year. The program is being offered in Springhill, replacing the Human Service program.

A result of rewriting the Human Services program, the new Social Services Diploma will be a two-year program offered exclusively in Springhill beginning in the 2014 - 2015 college year.

“Usually the program is one general year here and then the second year is a discipline at another campus,” Cumberland Campus Academic Chair Connie Fisher said. “Now its been redesigned and we can adopt placement and electives here, making it ideal for a rural community… The idea is it allows people from the community to learn and study here and find employment here.”

Fisher and Albert Rodgers, who will be the faculty for the new program, met with community partners to unveil the program and potential for the area. Representatives for Victoria Manor, Bridge Adult Services, Sunset Residential and Rehabilitation Services and the Autumn House were given a preview of the curriculum and held a round table discussion how the students can assist these services as part of their learning, while offering skilled resources to the programs.

“It’s exciting there’s so much potential partnering opportunities in this,” Rogers said. “This is an example of when change is good. It’s more in tune with what Cumberland County needs.”

Highlights of the new curriculum include family studies, mental health issues, developmental psychology, crisis facilitation, community development and helping theory.

Nova Scotia Community College Academic Chair Connie Fisher for the Cumberland Campus in Springhill and Albert Rogers, who will be the faculty for the new Social Services Diploma program at the campus, unveiled the expected curriculum students will learn when the program begins in the 2014-2015 school year. The program is being offered in Springhill, replacing the Human Service program.